Binche-Chimay-Binche: On Home Soil

With the breakaway falling apart, but still up the road, the Belguim National Road Racing Champion, Jens Debusschere (Lotto Belisol) and his compatriot Greg Van Avermaet (BMC), set off in search of the tete de la course.  Don't be too alarmed by Debusschere's odd shaped back.  He has simply stuffed his rain cape into the top of his jersey now that the sun has finally decided to shine.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  While you are there why not take the time to check out all of the cycling art on offer?  Also be sure to take the opportunity to pre-order my soon to be released, "Book de Tour" here;
http://www.dementimilestonepublishing.com/#!book-de-tour/c1nth.  It is a complete retelling of the 101st Tour de France through my annotated original watercolor and ink paintings, all painted as the race was unfolding in all of its unpredictable glory.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2449110---195767/Painting.html#.VDYC58_D_IU

Binche-Chimay-Binche: Slipping Off the Front

With the UCI World Road Racing Championships done and dusted, the season is just about over.  Just a few more of the classics left to contest.  Today it was back to Belgium for a dash from Binche to Chimay and back again.  The racing was on with a fairly large group getting up the road.  As I have written before, large breakaways tend not to work well together, and today was no exception.  So it was that Thomas De Gendt (Omega Pharma Quick-Step) slipped off the front of his cadre of compatriots including, N. Arndt (Giant Shimano), J. Bol (Belkin), Kevin Reza (Europcar), and H. Houle (Ag2r).  Omega Pharma Quick-Step had come to win and had the riders and the strategy to make it happen.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson and Company, www.richesonart.com.  The painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  While you are there, why not take the time to look around and all of the cycling art on offer, including my soon to be released, "Book de Tour."  You can learn more and pre-order your own copy at http://www.dementimilestonepublishing.com/#!book-de-tour/c1nth

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2449108-120-114-195767/Painting/Sports.html#.VDX-Y8_D_IU

2014 UCI Worlds: I Can Do This!

As he looked back over his shoulder with just over a kilometer to go this time, he could see a small group closing in.  And the peloton not far behind them.  He saw that former World Champion, Philippe Gilbert (Belgium) was leading, Cyril Gautier (France) and the two Spaniards, Roaquim Rodriquez and Alejandro Valverde, back towards his wheel.  With just about another 4 or 5 minutes of effort, Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland), must have been thinking, "I can do this!"  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/2014%20World%20Championships/2443438---202544/Painting.html#.VCi1Ps_D_IU

Spring Classics: Sprinting for the Line Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne

With both Team Belkin and Omega Pharma Quickstep creating the powerful break, it was up to them to bring home the win.  With the advantage of numbers, OPQS was in the strong position and then having Tom Boonen (a former wearer of the Rainbow Jersey) as the man designated for the win, it was their race to lose.  And Boonen delivered with a powerful sprint holding off the charging Moreno Hofland and Sep Vanmarcke of Team Belkin.  This is an original watercolor and ink painting that can be yours by visiting my artist website at www.greigleach.com or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2321717---195767/Painting.html#.UxUc-M8o7IU

Spring Classics: Checking the Damage Kuurne-Classic-Kuurne

The course of Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne was littered with short step climbs some cobbled and some not.  Bernard Eisel of Team Sky has gone to the front of the chase group in hopes of further splitting the field and of chasing down the Belkin/OPQS breakaway.  The front group built up a minute lead that the large chase group just couldn't work out how to pull back.  This is an original watercolor and ink painting that can be yours by visiting my artist website at www.greigleach.com, or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2321605---195767/Painting.html#.UxUads8o7IU